[English] BOY SCOUT CAPTURES ESCAPED GERMANS. PLUCKY HOLD-UP ON THE KETTERING ROAD.

BOY SCOUT CAPTURES ESCAPED GERMANS.

PLUCKY HOLD-UP ON THE KETTERING ROAD.

CAPTIVES MARCHED TO THE POLICE STATION.

"Hands up!" Two escaped German prisoners heard the challenge near Kettering and found themselves covered by a Boy Scout with a loaded gun.

Up shot their hands above their heads on the instant, and with the order, "Right about turn; march. None of your messing," the captor shepherded his charges to the nearest police station.

Thomas Gibson, the 17-year-old son of the landlord of the village inn at Old, close by Kettering, was the Boy Scout in question. He had heard that two prisoners had escaped from the Rothwell Camp and joined in the hue-and-cry when word came that the men were known to be in the neighbourhood.

Walking along the road near Stales Lodge, Gibson saw two strangers approaching. Instinct told him his quest was over, and he challenged them as described. They were guarded by him at Broughton police station until a police superintendent arrived by motor from Kettering.

The Germans are Heinrich Schmidt (25) and Theodore Jaakuls (22). They got away from Rothwell Camp about Sunday midnight. The only thing that indicated their position was the red stripe down their trousers. The police at Kettering had information that the men had been seen near Broughton, on the main Kettering road, but young Gibson by that time had them in safe custody. His pluck and resource will be brought to the notice of the authorities.

Source:

1. Page 4, China Mail", Monday, 22nd July, 7th Year of the Republic of China

   • 15th Day, 6th Lunar Month, Wu-wu Year

   • Monday, 22nd July, 1918 Common Era